Method of knitting stockings



April 5, 1938; E. s. SACHSENMAIER METHOD OF KNITTING STOCKINGS Filed Dec. "18

, 1936 5 Sheets-Sheet 1' INVENTOR ERVIN S. SACHSENMAIER BY I? ATTORNEYS Aprils, 1938. E. s. SACHSENMAIER 2,113,200

METHOD OF KNITTING STOCKINGS Filed Dec 18, 1956 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 'INVENTOR ERVIN S. SACHSENMAIER BY g A TORNE.,YS

April 5, 1938.

E. S. SACHSENMAIER METHOD OF KNITTING STOCKINGS Filed D60. 18, 1936 '3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR ERVlN S SACHSENMAIER BY HIS ATTORNEYS Patented Apr. 5, 1938 [UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE METHOD OF KNITTING STOCKINGS Application December 18, 1936, Serial No. 116,594

18 Claims.

heel tabs are knit on the same knitting head during the knitting of a stocking and simultaneously therewith.

In the drawings:

Fig. l is a broken plan view of a stocking knit in accordance with this invention, the heel tabs being shown one attached to and one separated from the stocking;

Fig. 2 is a broken partial plan view, drawn to a larger scale and showing the loop arrangement at the beginning and end of one side of the fabric of the toe;

Figs. 3, 4 and 5 are views in elevation, showing substantially diagrammatically the method of securing the welt to the stocking; Fig, 3 showing the welt knit and turned and held on the needles below the knocking-over bits during the knitting of the stocking foot and leg; Fig. 4

showing the welt raised above the knockingover bits preparatory to knitting the course which secures the welt to the stocking leg and Fig. 5 showing the welt attached to the stocking leg and supported therefrom during the knitting,

of ravel courses; and

Fig. 6 is a plan view, drawn to a larger scale and showing the loop arrangement when the heel tabs are transferred for attachment to the splicing.

In the knitting of a stocking in accordance with this invention, a full fashioned knitting machine is used, such machine being modified to carry out the operations set forth in the following description. In the operation of the machine the welt W is knit first in the usual manner, loops of the first course being engaged by the hooks of the usual welt bar and held thereby until the desired number of courses of the welt have been knit whereupon the welt is turned and the loops held by the hooks of the welt. bar are transferred to the needles N. The needles N are then operatedto permit of the loops of the welt being moved downwardly on the needles N so as to come below the knocking-over bits B,

leaving the needles N clear for knitting the remainder of the stocking.

Yarn is again fed to the needles for knittin and the loops are taken in the hooks of the welt bar in the usual way. At this time, however, the knitting of the stocking is from toe to top so at first there are knit several ravel courses, as at i in Fig. 1, followed by a loose course 2 which marks the beginning of the stocking toe proper and is to make looping of the toe easier. As the width of the foot is considerably less than the width of the upper portion of the stocking all the needles of the knitting head are not employed for the knitting of the foot so with the start of the knitting of the ravel courses 8, yarn is fed to needles of the same knitting head at each side of the needles knitting the foot and spaced therefrom for the knitting of heel tabs i As it is not desired to have the heel tabs completed until the needles knitting the foot have knit to the course at which the heel tabs are attached, the heel tab fabric, at first, is merely a narrow strip for a number of courses, as at d, gradually widening, as at Q, to the full width desired, as at t a loose course being provided, as at 6, to facilitate looping of the heel tabs to close the heel.

After the loose course 2 at the beginning of the toe has been knit two or three courses of plain fabric are knit before widening, to give the usual diamond point eflect, is commenced. To effect the widening at this poin narrowing points similar to those of a full fashion footer machine are used, the points being arranged to be racked outwardly but otherwise being operated in the usual manner to take loops from the needles for transfer. These narrowing polnts comprise two separate groups of points operating at each side of the fabric, a smaller inner group having as many points as there are to be wales in the full width of the diamond effect and a larger outer group having sufficient points to effect the desired widening of the toe. At the beginning of the widening operation the inner and outer groups of points at each side are together and all the groups of points are positioned so that all the points of both inner groups of points, except the outer point of each inner group, are under the guard or knife and will not operate to transfer loops when the groups of points are operated. Upon operation of the points for widening, after the points have been lowered to take the loops from the needles and then raised with the loops thereon, the inner groups of points are rackedoutwardly the distance of one needle while the brings the outer points of the inner groups of outer groups of points are racked outwardly the distance of two needles, and the groups of points are then operated to transfer the loops to the needles and are raised to permit the usual knitting operations.

' This operation of the points leaves two needles without loops in each half of the toe fabric, the bare needles being separated by a needle having a loop, and the subsequent knitting operation results in a small hole, as at 5 and 5 in Figs- 1 and 2, at each bare needle. The'movement of the inner groups of points also serve to withdraw an additional point of each inner group from beneath the guard or knife to a position in which these points are effective to transfer loops.

Between the courses in which widening takes points adjacent the outer groups of points so that the next widening movement, a distance of one needle for each of the inner groups and two needles for each of the outer groups again leaves two needles bare at each side and causes small holes to appear in the wales of the bare needles. The transferring ofthe loops by the widening movement of the points, the knitting of the plain fabric course or courses between the courses in which the widening movements take place and the movement of the inner groups of points outwardly between successive widening movements of the points are continued until all points of the inner groups have been moved out from under the guard or knife. During this operation each of the inner groups of points leaves the same needle bare at each widening operation so the holes resulting therefrom lie in same wales as the holes 5, I0, [2, l4 and [6 of Fig. 2, while the needles left bare by the outer groups of points are two needles further out at successive widening operations, as the holes 5 Ill, l2, I4 and Ill of Fig. 2. Throughout this operation the same number of points is kept effective in each of the outer groups of points thereby continuing the same number of wales outside of the holes, that is, to

the left of the holes 5 I0, 12*, I4" and H5 in Fig. 2.

After all the points of the inner groups of points have been moved out from under the guard or knife the outward movements of the points for widening and the knitting of the courses of plain fabric between the courses at which successive widening movements take place are continued. At this time however the inner groups of points are racked outwardly the distance of one needle and the outer groups of points are racked outwardly the distance of two needles at each widening movement but the outer groups of points are racked inwardly the distance of one needle between successive widening movements. The racking back of the outer groups of points each time brings each outer group of points adjacent the cooperating inner group of points causing but two needles to be left bare at each side and resulting in but two holes at each side at each widening movement as previously. As the number of points of the inner groups of points remains constant throughout this part of the widening operation the rows of holes resulting from the bare needles caused by the operation of the inner groups of needles, as at [8, 20, 22 etc., are in a diagonal linewith each hole one wale further out than the preceding hole and the holes Ill 20 22 etc. resulting from the operation of the outer groups of points are uniformly spaced from the corresponding points I8, 20, 22 etc., the number of wales intervening between the two rows of holes depending upon the number of points in the inner groups of points. Throughout this part of the widening operation the outer groups of points, because of their being racked inwardly between successive outward rackings, transfer one more loop at each widening movement than in the previous widening movement, thus gradually increasing the number of wales outside the outer rows of holes and gradually widening the fabric until the full number of courses of the toe is knit or the desired width is attained.

Upon completion of the toe, the knitting of the sole portions S and instep I is commenced, the sole being reinforced by the introduction of reinforcing or different yarns at each side of the instep in the usual manner. With the commencement of the instep and sole, widening of the entire fabric may take place during a number of courses, as at 36, and thereafter the fabric is knit of uniform width until widening for the gusset of the sole takes place during a plurality of courses,

as at 38. When the desired width is attained loose loops 40 are knit at each side to provide a loose course of less width than the sole at this course. For the knitting of the next courses separate yarns may be supplied to the needles on which the loose loops were knit for the knitting of ravel courses 42 while the sole and instep yarns are fed to the remaining needles of the sole and the needles of the instep. As the sole and ravel yarns are not fed to any common needles there is a selvage edge formed on the outer wales of the sole, as the wale d of Fig. 6, for the courses beginning as at course VI. A number of ravel courses 42 are knit and the yarns are then withdrawn permitting the ravel fabric to be pressed off. Instead of knitting the ravel courses of separate yarns these courses may be knit of the yarn or yarns used in knitting the sole and instep and the ravel fabric cut away. The knitting of the instep and sole continues until the course, shown as course XII in Fig. 6, at which the heel tabs are to be attached is reached.

Throughout the knitting of the sole and instep the knitting of the heel tabs has been continued, the widening .of the tabs being arranged to provide sumcient fabric of the proper width at the time the course at which the heel tabs are to be attached is reached in the knitting of the sole and instep. Before the knitting of this course, course XII of Fig. 6, transfer points are operated to remove the loops of the last course of the heel tabs from the needles and the transfer points are then racked inwardly and operated to place the loops of the heel tabs upon the needles from which the loops of the ravel fabric were pressed off. Thus in Fig. 6 the loops of the wales e to I' of the heel tabs are transferred to the needles which knit the wales e to I of the sole. The threads for the instep and high splice are then laid and the knitting of the course XII completed. Knitting of the course XII attaches the heel tabs in position on the splicing for the formation of the heel. While the loops of wales e to n of Fig. 6 have been described as being pressed off it is to be understood that the heel tabs may be transferred to the needles of these Wales without the fabric thereon being pressed off, the fabric being subsequently cut away before the looping of the heel is effected. It will also be noted that the ravel fabric may be wider at each side, as by the wales m and n, than the heel tabs and that thenur'nbers of wales and courses shown are chosen arbitrarily for the purpose of illustration.

The knitting of the stocking leg is continued, as indicated, by the dotted courses XII and XIV of Fig. 6, provision being made for the reinforcing of the high splice portions, as at 44, in the usual manner, and for the widening of the fabric at those portions, as 46, 48, 50, throughout the length of the leg L at which narrowing takes place in the usual method of manufacturing full fashioned stockings, until the full width of the stocking is attained and the course at which the welt is to be attached is about to be knit.

Before knitting the course at which the welt is attached, the welt which has been carried on the needles below the knocking over bits throughout the knitting of the remainder of the stocking, is raised above the knocking-over bits so the loops of the welt will be cast off the needles with the loops of the stocking legs L as the new loops are drawn. The new loops are made loose as they pass through both of the loops of the welt as well as the loops of the previous course of the stocking leg, thereby uniting the welt to the stocking leg. After knitting the loose course which attaches the welt to the leg a number of ravel courses are knit and then the yarn is withdrawn and the fabric pressed off. The loose course at thejunction of the welt and. leg is placed on looper points and looped to form a selvage preventing raveling back of the fabric of the leg and the ravel courses are removed. The heeltabs are then looped to the sole, as at 4| and 40, and the stocking then finished in the usual manner.

While the use ofpoints for transferring loops to effect the widening of the toe has been described, such points need not be used for effecting widening at other parts of the stocking as the widening at 36, 38, 46, 48 and 50 may be effected by any suitable or desirable method.

I claim:-

1. In a method of knitting a stocking, the steps of knitting a welt, knitting a foot and leg beginning at the toe and retaining thewelt on the needles during the knitting of the foot and le and knitting a course joining the welt and leg.

2. In a method of knitting a stocking, the steps of knitting a welt, turning the welt and holding opposite edges thereof on the needles, knitting a foot and leg beginning at the toe and retaining the welt on the needles below the knocking-over bits during the knitting of the foot and leg, returning the welt above the knocking-over bits and knitting a course joining the welt and the leg.

3. In a method of knitting a stocking, the steps of knitting a welt, turning the welt to engage the first knit course thereof on theneedles, moving the loops of the welt down on the needles to come below the knocking-over bits, knitting a foot and leg beginning at the toe with the loops of the welt retained on the needles, returning the loops of the welt above the knocking-over bits and knitting a course uniting the welt and the leg.

4. In a method of knitting a stocking, the steps of knitting a welt, turning the welt to-engage both ends thereof with the needles, retaining the w'elt on the needles and knitting the foot and leg of the stocking beginning at the toe and drawing loops through loops of the stocking leg and both edges of the welt to join the welt and stocking leg.

5. In a method of knitting a stocking the steps of knitting a welt, turning the welt to engage the first knit course thereof on the needles, knitting a stocking foot beginning at the toe and simultaneously therewith knitting heel tabs on the same knitting head, joining said heel tabs to the stocking, knitting the stocking leg and joining the stocking leg and welt.

6. In a method of knitting a stocking, the steps of knitting a welt, turning the welt to engage the first knit course thereof on the needles, moving the loops of the welt down on, the needles to come below the knocking-over bits, knitting a stocking foot beginning at the toe and simultaneously therewith knitting heel tabs on the same knit- [I ting head, transferring the heel tabs to needles knitting the stocking foot, joining said heel tabs to the stocking in the continued knitting of the stocking, knitting the stocking leg to the course for attaching the welt, raising the loops of the welt on the needles to come above the knockingover bits and knitting a course joining the welt and stocking leg.

'7. In a method of knitting a stocking, the stepsv of knitting heel tabs simultaneously with the knittingof the foot, pressing off the loops from a number of the needles knitting the stocking sole, transferring the heel tabloops to the bare needles and joining said heel tabs to the stocking by the succeeding course of loops.

8. In a method of knitting a stocking the steps of knitting heel tabs simultaneously with the knitting of a stocking and on the same knitting head and transferring said heel tabs to needles 11. In a method of knitting a stocking the steps of knitting a heel tab simultaneously with the knitting of the foot at each side of the foot on the same knitting head and transferring said heel tabs to needles used in knitting the foot for attachment to the stocking in the knitting of the stocking.

12. In a method of knitting stockings the steps of knitting the stocking foot beginning at the toe, knitting heel tabs simultaneously with the foot on the same knitting head and transferring said heel tabs to needles used in knitting th foot for attachment to the stocking.

13. In a method of knitting a stocking the steps of knitting the stocking foot beginning at the toe, knitting heel tabs simultaneously with ing said heel tabs during the knitting of the foot.

14. In a method of knitting a stocking from.

toe to top the step of knitting heel tabs simultaneously with the knitting of a portion of the stocking and on the same knitting head.

- 15. In a method of knitting a stocking the step of widening the fabric thereof by transferring adjacent groups of loops of the same course outwardly, different numbers of needles.

16. In a method of knitting a stocking the steps of transferring a plurality of groups of loops in the same direction outwardly, different numbers of needles to widen the fabric of the toe.

17. In a ,method of knitting a stocking the steps of transferring a plurality of groups of loops in the same direction outwardly, difierent toe to top, the steps of knitting heel tabs simulnurnbers of needles to widen the fabric of the taneously with the knitting of a portion of a toe at each side thereof, the transferring movestocking and on the same knitting head and atment of the loops leaving spaced needles bare at taehing heel tabs to the stocking during the 5 each side of the fabric at each transfer operation. knitting of the stocking foot.

18. In a method of knitting stockings from ERVIN S. SACHSENMAIER. 

